The Georgia Department of Education on Nov. 2 released its Adequate Yearly Progress report for public schools under the mandate of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
AYP is measured based on state assessment tests. In Atlanta Public Schools District 4, which includes Buckhead, both Garden Hills Elementary and North Atlanta High School did not make AYP.
Cynthia Briscoe Brown, co-President of North Atlanta Parents for Public Schools, said students at North Atlanta High School routinely get high marks in other areas, such as SAT scores.
“I’m not concerned because all of the measures that are most important for me as a parent to know that our students are succeeding are steadily improving,” she said.
Amy Alderman, principal at Garden Hills, said the school did not make AYP because Hispanic students with limited English proficiency did not make enough progress in math.
“The language plays a larger roll now in math,” Alderman said. “(The achievement test) assesses kids on problem solving. We’re finding the language has really become a factor because the kids struggled to identify what they were being asked to do.”
She said the school is implementing different practices that will help English language learners achieve betters scores in math.
“It’s nice to pass a test, but we’re trying to set them up to be successful,” she said.
Atlanta District 4
Name: Did school meet AYP?
Morris Brandon Elementary School Yes
Garden Hills Elementary School No
Jackson Elementary School Yes
North Atlanta High School No
E. Rivers Elementary School Yes
Smith Elementary School Yes
Sutton Middle School Yes
Source: Georgia Department of Education
